Latest news with #Iranian-born
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Mum-of-two ‘recovering' after nightmare first date with driver who caused horror A1 crash that left 7 cops in hospital
Courtney was being dropped off at home when the pursuit began 'MAJOR SHOCK' Mum-of-two 'recovering' after nightmare first date with driver who caused horror A1 crash that left 7 cops in hospital Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A YOUNG mum is "recovering" after a nightmare first date with a driver who caused a horror pile-up during a police chase. Seven cops needed hospital treatment following the high-speed pursuit as personal trainer Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, attempted to flee - all with his date Courtney Redfern, 27, in the passenger seat. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Courtney Redfern is still recovering after the horror crash, a pal said Credit: Instagram 8 Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, leaving Newcastle Crown Court toda Credit: PA 8 Damaged police cars and an unmarked black car on its side following the A1 collision Credit: NNP 8 Police pulled over Iranian-born Azarbonyad's BMW M5 in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in the early hours of April 9 as he drove home. Mum-of-two Courtney urged him to stop before he led cops on a pursuit through the town and onto the A1 towards Newcastle. Four police cars - with the support of a helicopter - were able to box in the BMW, bringing it to a halt. However, another unmarked police Volvo smashed into the stationary vehicles on the carriageway near the Derwent Haugh Road junction at 80mph at 2.27am. Courtney and Azarbonyad managed to come out of the crash with only minor injuries. Shocking pictures from the scene show the mangled police cars - as well as the unmarked black car on its side. None of the officers suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Northumbria Police. An unnamed source told the MailOnline: "There was a great deal of trauma for Courtney and her family as a result of what happened. "It was a first date and no one could have expected an outcome like that from what should have been an ordinary evening out. "It's fortunate that no one was killed when looking at the wreckage left behind, it was all anyone who saw it could talk about. A1 CLOSED in both directions after car 'mounted pavement & ploughed into cafe' in three-vehicle smash "She's recovering but it was obviously a major shock." Appearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on April 19, Azarbonyad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash. He also admitted a series of other driving offences, including driving without insurance or a licence four times after the collision in breach of his bail conditions. He was due to be sentenced today over the crash but was the case was adjourned until June 2 after he contested a previous conviction. The court was told he accrued eight penalty points for driving with no licence or insurance on September 16 2023, but Azarbonyad claimed to have no knowledge of the conviction, reports the Mail. Azarbonyad was given bail on the condition he does not drive his vehicle. Courtney was also arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving but was later told she faced no further action. After the collision, Supt Michelle Caisley, from Northumbria Police, said: 'Firstly, we want to wish all the officers who have been involved in the collision a full recovery. 'We would also thank all those who attended the scene, including our colleagues from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service." Do you know more? Email 8 Azarbonyad leaving magistrates' court last month Credit: NNP 8 The crash took place just before 2.30am on April 9 Credit: Simon Greener/NCJ Media 8 Police collision investigation teams attended the scene Credit: NCJMedia
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Mum-of-two ‘recovering' after nightmare first date with driver who caused horror A1 crash that left 7 cops in hospital
A YOUNG mum is "recovering" after a nightmare first date with a driver who caused a horror pile-up during a police chase. Seven cops needed hospital treatment following 8 Courtney Redfern is still recovering after the horror crash, a pal said Credit: Instagram 8 Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, leaving Newcastle Crown Court toda Credit: PA 8 Damaged police cars and an unmarked black car on its side following the A1 collision Credit: NNP 8 Police pulled over Iranian-born Azarbonyad's BMW M5 in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in the early hours of April 9 as he drove home. Mum-of-two Courtney urged him to stop before he led cops on a pursuit through the town and onto the A1 towards Newcastle. Four police cars - with the support of a helicopter - were able to box in the BMW, bringing it to a halt. However, another unmarked police Volvo smashed into the stationary vehicles on the carriageway near the Derwent Haugh Road junction at 80mph at 2.27am. Read more news Courtney and Azarbonyad managed to come out of the crash with only minor injuries. Shocking pictures from the scene show the mangled police cars - as well as the unmarked black car on its side. None of the officers suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Northumbria Police. An unnamed source told the Most read in The Sun "It was a first date and no one could have expected an outcome like that from what should have been an ordinary evening out. "It's fortunate that no one was killed when looking at the wreckage left behind, it was all anyone who saw it could talk about. A1 CLOSED in both directions after car 'mounted pavement & ploughed into cafe' in three-vehicle smash "She's recovering but it was obviously a major shock." Appearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on April 19, Azarbonyad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash. He also admitted a series of other driving offences, including driving without insurance or a licence four times after the collision in breach of his bail conditions. He was due to be sentenced today over the crash but was the case was adjourned until June 2 after he contested a previous conviction. The court was told he accrued eight penalty points for driving with no licence or insurance on September 16 2023, but Azarbonyad claimed to have no knowledge of the conviction, reports the Mail. Azarbonyad was given bail on the condition he does not drive his vehicle. Courtney was also arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving but was later told she faced no further action. After the collision, Supt Michelle Caisley, from Northumbria Police, said: 'Firstly, we want to wish all the officers who have been involved in the collision a full recovery. 'We would also thank all those who attended the scene, including our colleagues from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service." Do you know more? Email 8 Azarbonyad leaving magistrates' court last month Credit: NNP 8 The crash took place just before 2.30am on April 9 Credit: Simon Greener/NCJ Media 8 Police collision investigation teams attended the scene Credit: NCJMedia 8 The crash saw the road close in both directions Credit: NNP
AU Financial Review
23-05-2025
- AU Financial Review
Sam Altman's $10b bet to give OpenAI its ‘iPhone moment'
On Wednesday, the Iranian-born computer scientist Shahram Izadi took to the stage at Google's annual developer conference in Silicon Valley, and did the thing that everyone in the computer community knows not to do. Izadi, an expert in augmented reality and natural user interfaces, who helped Microsoft launch its Hololens AR system and who now works for Google, attempted a live demonstration of a new AI device Google is working on.
AU Financial Review
23-05-2025
- AU Financial Review
Sam Altman's $6.5b bet to give AI its ‘iPhone moment'
On Wednesday, the Iranian-born computer scientist Shahram Izadi took to the stage at Google's annual developer conference in Silicon Valley, and did the thing that everyone in the computer community knows not to do. Izadi, an expert in augmented reality and natural user interfaces, who helped Microsoft launch its Hololens AR system and who now works for Google, attempted a live demonstration of a new AI device Google is working on.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iranian-born refugee could be first female archbishop of Canterbury
An Iranian-born refugee could become the first female archbishop of Canterbury. Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, has emerged as an early front-runner among bookmakers to succeed Justin Welby, who formally stepped down in January. Ladbrokes and Star Sports have both named her the favourite to become the 106th holder of the role and the first woman in the job's 1,428-year history. Bishop Francis-Dehqani has been an outspoken critic of the immigration policy of successive governments. Earlier this week, she criticised the Prime Minister's speech in which he said Britain risked 'becoming an island of strangers'. She said: 'In the churches and different communities I am a part of, we are not an 'island of strangers'. Migrants are not 'strangers' but friends who fully participate and contribute as we worship, serve and live life together. 'The vast majority have applied through official routes to come here to the UK to live, work and study, and their contributions go far beyond a simple binary GDP evaluation.' She also criticised the previous government's Rwanda asylum plan, and attacked Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, after she said that churches were fuelling fake asylum claims. Bishop Francis-Dehqani's family fled to Britain when she was 13 following Iran's Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s. Her brother was shot dead in 1980 and attempts had been made on the lives of her father, an Anglican bishop, and mother before they left. She was ordained in 1999 and served as bishop of Loughborough from 2017 to 2021 before moving to Chelmsford in 2021. She is now one of five women among the bookmakers' front-runners to become the most senior bishop and the spiritual leader of the Church. Earlier this month, the Church of England announced the central members and Anglican Communion representatives of the Canterbury Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), the body charged with nominating a new archbishop. Its membership was expected to be announced in March, but there appear to have been delays in the selection of representatives from the diocese of Canterbury. On Tuesday, the Church confirmed that Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, currently the most senior bishop in the Church, would be among the voting members, alongside Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich. It has already been confirmed that the commission will be chaired by Lord Evans of Weardale, a former director general of the MI5 security service. Candidates for the new archbishop have to be at least 30 years old, and are generally younger than 70. A nomination cannot be made unless it has the support of two-thirds of the total number of CNC voting members in a secret ballot. The commission is expected to have its first meeting later this month. At least two further meetings will follow in July and September. It is expected a nomination could be announced for the 106th archbishop of Canterbury by autumn – a year after Mr Welby announced his resignation. He said on Nov 12 2024 that he was to stand down following failures in handling an abuse scandal involving John Smyth, a barrister and Christian camp leader thought to be the most prolific abuser associated with the Church. The Church has faced calls to speed up the process of appointing Mr Welby's successor. Martin Vickers, a Conservative MP, said it had a lot to learn from the Catholic Church's speedy election of the new Pope. In past years, those tipped for the role in the early stages have not gone on to lead the Church. Both Mr Welby, archbishop from 2013 to 2025, and Rowan Williams, who held the role from 2002 to 2012, were not on the early list of front-runners. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
